At A Glance
A journey north to Merseyside is on Aston Villa’s agenda for Saturday as they take on Everton in the Premier League.
The 210th meeting between the clubs is a significant one on both sides as Villa look to end a three-game losing run and the Toffees aim to move clear of the relegation zone.
A promising run of three wins from four away league games offers Unai Emery’s team hope as they look to complete the double against Everton.
Ollie Watkins has been leading the way of late for Villa, scoring in four straight games for the first time in his career.
Opponents Everton have taken six points from a possible nine since Sean Dyche’s arrival in January, securing wins against Arsenal and Leeds United.
Scoring goals remains a problem for the Toffees, who are the joint-lowest scorers in the top flight.
Standout Stats
This is the 210th staging of the most-played fixture in English league history. Aston Villa lead by 78 wins to Everton's 76, with 55 draws.
Villa can equal their longest league winning streak against Everton of four matches, achieved most recently between 1996-98.
Aston Villa are unbeaten in all seven Premier League meetings since returning to the top flight in 2019 (W5, D2).
Everton are vying to earn a third win in only four league matches under Sean Dyche. They only won three times in 20 attempts under Frank Lampard this season.
Ollie Watkins can become the first player to score in five successive top-flight appearances for Villa since Paul Rideout from December 1984 to January 1985.
Dyche can become the third manager to win each of his first three Premier League home games in charge of Everton, emulating David Unsworth (across two spells as caretaker manager) and Rafa Benítez.
The Toffees haven't scored more than once in any of their past 13 league and cup fixtures, totalling only eight goals during that run.
The Villans can concede at least three goals in four straight top-flight matches for the first time since March 1966.
Emery is in danger of losing four top-flight fixtures in a row as a manager for the first time in his career.
The Spaniard won all three Premier League matches as Arsenal manager against Sean Dyche's Burnley.
The Last Meeting
Villa picked up their first victory of the 2022/23 season against the Frank Lampard-led Toffees in August.
Danny Ings’ emphatic finish set them on their way in the first half before Emi Buendía tapped home a second with five minutes to play.
Lucas Digne’s own goal set up a nervy finale, but Villa held firm to take the win.
Team News
Diego Carlos is back in full training but is not yet ready to feature for Villa.
Everton have Amadou Onana available after he limped off in their last outing, while Dominic Calvert-Lewin has been ruled out.
Andros Townsend, Nathan Patterson and James Garner remain sidelined for the Toffees.
The Boss
“Against Everton, we have to be defensively strong, offensively very focused how we can face them. I think now, they are confident at home, they have won the last two matches at home, with their supporters. And, of course, they are behind us in the table, but there is not a lot of difference between both. We have to continue trying to escape from the bottom. It’s a very, very important match on Saturday.”
Unai Emery
